Visit the Top Attractions of Bharatpur

Considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in Nepal, Bharatpur has a number of interesting attractions, many of which relate to the ancient history and multifaceted culture of this thriving center. Located on the banks of the Narayani River, Bharatpur also has a number of natural attractions, including the spectacular Chitwan National Park and Bish Hazari Lake, renowned worldwide as a prime birding destination. As one of the biggest and deepest rivers of Nepal, the Narayani River has a number of small islands which are popular as picnic spots. Religious landmarks of Bharatpur include the Ganeshthan Temple, Harihar Temple, Pashupatinath Temple and Rameshowr Temple.

One of the most holy places for followers of the Hindu religion, Devghat, is located on the outskirts of Bharatpur where the Trisuli and Kali Gandaki Rivers meet and become the Narayani River. Every year in January, the Makar Sankranti festival is attended by Hindus who have traveled from far and wide to participate in ceremonial bathing rituals at Devghat, which according to legend is the place where the Hindu goddess Sita died.

Nature-loving travelers should definitely include a trip through Chitwan National Park when visiting Bharatpur. Established in 1973, Chitwan was Nepal's first national park and was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Among the dense flora of the park are Rhino Apple trees (Trewia nudiflora) which, as the name suggests, are a favorite food of the park’s Rhino population. Sadly, as is the case in other parts of the world, Chitwan's Rhino population is dwindling as poachers kill them for their horns which some cultures mistakenly believe have medicinal properties. Chitwan is home to more than seven hundred species of wildlife, with an undetermined number of moth, butterfly and insect species. The elusive Bengal tiger is most at home in the alluvial floodplains of the park, while Leopards are generally found on the outskirts of Chitwan. With more than 540 recorded species of birds in Chitwan National Park, it is a very popular birding destination.